Apparatus for bleaching fruit



Patented Apr. 3, 1883.

Z O y J. R. HILLMAN.

APPARATUS FOR BLEAGHING FRUIT, 1Km.` No. 275,044.

(No Model.)

N. PETERs Plmmiithogmphcr. wnhington. D. C.

.u S EL T.

UNrrED STATES J OTHAM ll.

PATENT OFFICE.,

HILLMAN, OF HOPEWELL, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FRUIT, 84.6.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,044, dated .April 3, 1(83. Application filed January i3, 1583. (No model.)

' and State of New York, have invented an Iniproved Apparatus for Bleaching and Setting` the Color ot' Fruit and 'Tegetables preparatory to drying the saine, ot' which the following is va specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for subjecting the newly sliced or prepared fruit to the action of burning` sulphur fumes, to have this action continuous and rapid upon successive boxes ot' the fruit as fast as introduced, and to provide for the escape otl the sulphur-fumes in an efficient manner, after having acted upon the fruit, without contaminating the air of the apartment in which the apparatus is used, and in which all the operations may be carried on with ease, rapidity, and certainty.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of my improved bleacher, with a part of the side removed to show its internal arrangement. Fig. 2 is atop vlew. y

The same letters of reference refer to like parts in both views.

A is a.rectangnlar case, preferably of wood, and inclosed on all sides.

B B B are three ofthe boxes which hold the freshly-sliced fruit. The boxes are open on top and the bottom is formed of wire-netting, (shown in one box in Fig. 2, but omitted from the other boxes to avoid confusion in the drawings,) to allow the fumes ol' the sulphur to readily pass through and come in contact with the fruit. These boxes are introduced through the opening C in the end ofthe apparat-us.

D is a iexible flap, of rubber or other suitable material, to close the space between the box and the opening C to prevent the escape ofthe sulphur-fumes. y

When the box is tirst entered it rests upon a platform, E, pivoted at F F upon opposite sides of the case. Rigidly attached to said platform is a lever, G, which is held down by a spiral spring, H, and which couuterbalances the weight ofthe platform E and box B. The rear end of lever G engages with the lever I, pivoted to the side of the case at J, the other end ot' which passes through the outside of the case and is pivoted to the perpendicular bar K, which is graduated near the top, and slides freely up and down through the staple L.' M is a partition dividing the upper pait of thc case into two coinliartments, l and i. Astride this partition is an opening, Naud N', surmounted by a sleeve, Y, for a stove-pipe to t upon, to convey the sulphur-fumes out ot' the apartment. rlhis'sleeve has a partition, l1., in it, coinciding with the partition M. y O is a damper, by which the side of the open` ing N may be closed to prevent the escape ot' the sulphur-fumes up the pipe, itdesired.

The iron pot in which the sulphur is burned is shown at I. lt is placed in an opening through the end ot' the case, which, with the ange R on its top, it exactly fills. The part S ot' the sulphur-pot is open on top, and in thisthe sulphur is lirst placed and ignited, the fumes passing directly into the bleacher or case A. The part ofthe sulphur-pot which is outside the case is closed on top, but has therein an open tube,T, extendingdownward nearly to the bottom of the pot, and is submerged in the melted and burning sulphurI in compartment S. In the tube T is placed a roll ot" sulphur, which at the bottom slowly melts and keeps up the supply of burning sulphur, the fumes of which, it will be seen, cannot escape into the outside air, but must all pass into the case and through the fruit. y

The operation of thc apparatus will be readily understood. The sulphur being ignited, an empty box is introduced through C upon the platform E. The freshly-sliced fruit is passed directly through the spout U into the box. Across the bottom ot' the spout are placed two cords or wires, V and W, at right angles, and fastened to opposite sides ot' the case. rlhe action ot' these cords or wires is to separate the pieces ot' fruit from cach other and distribute them evenly over the box, which is done very eflectunlly. As the box fills the platform E is depressed, overcoming the tension of the spiral spring H, and through the system of levers G and I the indicator-bar K is raised, and by the graduatious thereon itis easily seen when the box is full of fruit. Another empty box is then introduced at C, pushing before it the first box upon the tracks X, fastened along the inner sides of the case, and during all this time the fruit is being thoroughly acted upon by the sulphur-fumes. -When the IDO opening e upon the bracket Z, from whence the' contents are removed tothe drier, and the empty box is ready to be returned to the bleacher. Any number of these boxes, duplicates ofBBB,may be used,as may befonnd convenient. and supported by the leg Q, which can be removed and the bracket folded up compactly against the case. These operations, it Will be seen, may be carried on consecutively andindefinitely, giving the apparatus acapacity for work and a certainty far exceeding, it is believed, any previous apparatus devised for the purpose. l

Having thus described my invention, what l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

Yl. In a fruit-bleacher, the case A, divided in The bracket Z is hung upon hinges its upper part into two compartments by the transverse partition M, and so constructed with openings G and e, pivoted platform E, and tracks X as to permit the introduction successively ot' the boxes B B B and their duplicates (to expose the contained fruit to the sulphur-fumes) and thc passage ot' the said boxes through the apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and described.

v2. In a fruit-bleacher,thecombination therewith of the pivoted platform E, levers G and I, spiral spring H, and graduated indicatorbar K, substantially as described.

3. ln a fruit-bleacher, the combination, with the case A, ot the stove-pipe sleeve or collar Y, having in it the transverse partition h, coinciding with the partition M, the whole surmounting the openings N and N', communieating with the compartments l and 2; also,in combination with said sleeve or collarand casevA, the damper O, substantially asn described.

JO'LHAM R. HILLMAN.

Vitnesses:

WILLIAM RBROOKS, WARREN W. CRITTENDEN. 

